Since the NBA playoffs are a few months away, I figured I'd get a thread going for March Madness, with the conference tournaments getting underway.

It's looking like the Big East, if you go by ESPN's Bubble Watch, will be holding at seven teams in the tournament, barring a team like Providence making a run in the tournament. The ACC has 5 "locks"right now, with Boston College, VA Tech, and my Terps fighting it out for possibly 2 more at-large bids.

So, to the rest of you: are your teams in position to make the tournament, or sliding off the bubble? If your team's not in it, do you have another team that you're rooting for?

I usually don't watch much, but I think FSU is pretty solid to make it this season for the first time in over a decade so I'll probably pay a little more attention for once. No clue what to expect from them though, they haven't done any real damage since Charlie Ward left town.

The Pac-10 shook out pretty poorly, so unless Arizona wins today to get to 9-9 and probably wins one game (maybe two) in the Pac-10 tourney, the Pac-10 is only getting four bids. If Washington wins today against WSU they will clinch their first outright conference title since 1953, so GO HUSKIES.

(Also, there is an outside chance FOUR teams in the Pac-10 will end the day 8-10, which would mean tiebreaker craziness to see who gets to start with a quarterfinal game against kind of-fading Arizona State, Cal, or a first round match-up (and the four-games-in-four-days-to-win) with Stanford or Oregon (which is followed but UW or UCLA).)

There haven't been many upsets in conference tournament play so far. The "biggest" one would seem to be Tennessee-Martin (22-9, 14-4) losing as the #1 seed in the Ohio Valley to #4 Morehead State (18-15, 12-6), and that's not too big of an upset if you go by their conference records. You've got MSU playing Austin Peay for the title today, along with two match-ups of top-two seeds in the Atlantic Sun and Big South to see who joins Cornell in the round of 65.

Holy fuck shit motherfucker shit. Read comics. Fuck shit shit fuck shit I sold out when I did my job. Fuck fuck fuck shit fuck. Sorry had to do it....

*snip*

Revenge of the Sith = one thumb up from me. Fuck shit. I want to tittie fuck your ass. -- The Guinness. to Cerebus

Sadly, 6 wins aren't enough to get Indiana to dance - but they're 6 wins to build on for next year. So I'm pulling for the alma maters. Boston U needs to win the America East tournament for a spot. They're playing Maryland-Baltimore County today. Penn State *should* be in, but they're completely erratic - nice win again Illinois the other night, but losing to Iowa today? Not a good way to prep for the tournament. A poor showing in the BTen tourney will keep them out.

Unless they go on a miracle run in the SEC Tournament, Kentucky will be lucky to get in the NIT (It'll be interesting to see if any crowd will show up for games as you *have* to think they would have UK host games for it).

My "bold" prediction: Whoever wins the Big East tournament will lose in the 2nd round of the NCAAs. That is one *brutal* conference and whoever has to win three of those games in three days will be beat all to hell and will run out of steam in the Big Dance. I think one of the Big East teams who lose in the Semi-Finals games will end up winning it all (of course, I reserve the right to change my mind when I see actual brackets).

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Originally posted by DrewDewceUnless they go on a miracle run in the SEC Tournament, Kentucky will be lucky to get in the NIT (It'll be interesting to see if any crowd will show up for games as you *have* to think they would have UK host games for it).

My "bold" prediction: Whoever wins the Big East tournament will lose in the 2nd round of the NCAAs. That is one *brutal* conference and whoever has to win three of those games in three days will be beat all to hell and will run out of steam in the Big Dance. I think one of the Big East teams who lose in the Semi-Finals games will end up winning it all (of course, I reserve the right to change my mind when I see actual brackets).

I think Providence would need to win their 1st game in the Big East Tourney and at least play a competitive game in the quarterfinals to get in. Marquette I can't see making any run without the point guard. Pitt and UCONN will go in as high seeds, but they will be very dependent on who is the ref. Big guys get in early foul trouble and they are in for a fall. Villanova could be a team that makes a deep run, and Louisville probably is the Big East team that makes the deepest run, based on talent and coaching. As for Kentucky hosting an NIT game: They actually do seed the NIT, so if they make it as a low seed they won't host, but if they don't make the NIT, there is always the other tourney that isn't the NIT, where they would definitely host games.

Originally posted by DrewDewceUnless they go on a miracle run in the SEC Tournament, Kentucky will be lucky to get in the NIT (It'll be interesting to see if any crowd will show up for games as you *have* to think they would have UK host games for it).

After this afternoon, you can just as easily swap "Kentucky" with "Maryland" in that sentence. They only needed to beat a sorry Virginia team to finish at 8-8 in the conference, which would probably have gotten them in; now, barring a host of other bubble teams losing, they'll need to get to the ACC tournament final to be considered. Otherwise it'll be 4 out of the past 5 years that the Terps have been NIT-bound.

Originally posted by StegDutchieSadlyFortunately, 6 wins aren't enough to get Indiana to dance

Fixed that for you. While they're not finishing the season quite they way I'd like, my Boilermakers are a tourney lock, probably as a 6 seed. In addition, I'll also be rooting for the Butler Bulldogs just because they're Butler and Hinkle Fieldhouse is one of the greatest places ever to see a college basketball game.

Tim

Vocatus atque non vocatus, Deus aderit. -- Erasmus

All others things being equal, the simplest solution is usually stupidity. -- Darwin Minor

I'm just so damn happy to see Mizzou back in the tourney again. We've had some dark days thanks to the Quin Snyder era. I'd be thrilled if they make any kind of tourney run, but just making it again is wonderful. It'd be nice if they won the Big 12 Tournament after losing 2/3 in the last week.

Originally posted by StegDutchieSadly, 6 wins aren't enough to get Indiana to dance - but they're 6 wins to build on for next year. So I'm pulling for the alma maters. Boston U needs to win the America East tournament for a spot. They're playing Maryland-Baltimore County today. Penn State *should* be in, but they're completely erratic - nice win again Illinois the other night, but losing to Iowa today? Not a good way to prep for the tournament. A poor showing in the BTen tourney will keep them out.

(edited by StegDutchie on 7.3.09 1623)

It was upset day in the America East, unfortunately, the 7 seed Albany (on their home court) knocked off the 2 Vermont, and the 6 seed UMBC took down Boston U. Both games went to OT.

Albany plays UMBC in one semi today, while the #1 seed Binghamton takes on New Hampshire.

Championship game is next Saturday: UMBC/Albany winner at Binghamton/New Hampshire winner.

Originally posted by bash91In addition, I'll also be rooting for the Butler Bulldogs just because they're Butler and Hinkle Fieldhouse is one of the greatest places ever to see a college basketball game.

Butler will have to beat Cleveland State, a team they have beaten twice this year by two points each time. I am hoping the third time is a charm!

GO VIKINGS!

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Davidson loses in the semifinals of its conference tournament, and that spells trouble for any March Curry Madness. Of course, East Tennessee State is back in the tourney (with 3 guys on its roster who've scored over 1000 points), so maybe we'll all have another underdog to cheer for!

Yup, they knocked off Cincinnati 67-57. They left it plenty late, but the NCAA dream is still alive!

And I, for one, will laugh long and loud if they manage the miracle run, and get into the dance at 13-23. I'll laugh even louder when that gets them a 14 or so seed, and they avoid the play-in, because you know that'll happen.

Originally posted by DrewDewceUnless they go on a miracle run in the SEC Tournament, Kentucky will be lucky to get in the NIT (It'll be interesting to see if any crowd will show up for games as you *have* to think they would have UK host games for it).

They do NIT bracketology. http://www.nitology.com/ The 'Cats are pegged as a 4 seed. Now I'm going to go put my head in an oven, but as an homage to this year's Wildcat team, I'm going to do it without any sense of commitment or dedication. I may commit a turnnover and put my head in a sink instead.

With UK looking NIT bound and Arizona on the bubble, Kansas could assume the mantle of having the longest NCAA tourney streak this year.Edit - With the high school Sweet 16 being held at Rupp, there are questions about if UK could host a first NIT game. Back to looking for the oven...

(edited by Rudoublesedoublel on 10.3.09 1549)"I'm on my time with everyone." - Kurt Cobain

With Butler going down and getting Depaul instead of Cincy, Providence is probably going to need to win today and then have to either beat Louisville or play a very close game against Louisville. Now, Coach Pitino, you seriously thought about returning to Providence after last season and you claim to love the school, even though you lied when you said you wouldn't leave for the Knicks. Make up for the lies by either having your team lay down or shave points.

Poor Weber State went 15-1 in the Big Sky and got KOed by #6 Montana State last night in the semifinals, so the Bobcats are one win away from making the Big Dance at 15-16 overall. (Also, BOO to the Big Sky for only having their top six teams in their conference tourney instead of all nine.)

Holy fuck shit motherfucker shit. Read comics. Fuck shit shit fuck shit I sold out when I did my job. Fuck fuck fuck shit fuck. Sorry had to do it....

*snip*

Revenge of the Sith = one thumb up from me. Fuck shit. I want to tittie fuck your ass. -- The Guinness. to Cerebus